Eating well when living with an intellectual disability—Exploring the carer: client relationship in residential settings

Abstract

Background: Individuals with intellectual disabilities face increased risks of obesity and health issues. Carers in residential settings play a crucial role in shaping their dietary habits. This study explores how carers influence eating behaviours to identify strategies for healthy eating. Method: Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted with carers from three community homes. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: (i) whose responsibility is it?; (ii) food autonomy and choice in the context of caring relationships; (iii) opportunities for working together to support dietary choices. Results: Carers strive to encourage healthy eating while respecting residents' autonomy, particularly in those with cognitive impairments or on psychotropic medications. They use strategies like rapport-building, personalised care, and nutrition education. However, these efforts are limited by gaps in knowledge, time constraints, and variation in application and impact. Conclusions: Findings highlight the practice gap and the need for better training and resources to support carers in promoting healthy food choices while respecting residents' autonomy.